Technique for printing call-back information in a facsimile machine combined with automatic answering machine

1. A method of printing call-back information in a facsimile machine including an automatic answering machine with a voice memory, comprising the steps of: checking whether the facsimile machine is set to an automatic answering mode, upon receiving a ring signal of an incoming call; checking whether said voice memory is full, when the facsimile machine is determined to be set to said automatic answering mode; sending to a caller a memory-full status message requesting the caller to leave call-back information, when it is determined that said voice memory is full; and printing out said call-back information on a recording sheet.

2. A method of printing call-back information according to claim 1, said call-back information comprising a DTMF dual tone multi frequency signal.

3. A method of printing call-back information according to claim 1, said call-back information comprising a telephone number of said caller.

4. A method of printing call-back information according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a receiving mode of the facsimile machine, if the facsimile machine is determined not to be set to said automatic answering mode.

5. An apparatus for printing call-back information in a facsimile machine including an automatic answering machine with a voice memory, comprising: a mode checking means for checking whether the facsimile machine is set to an automatic answering mode, upon receiving a ring signal of an incoming call; a memory checking means for checking whether said voice memory is full, when the facsimile machine is determined to be set to said automatic answering mode; a means for sending to a caller a memory-full status message requesting the caller to forward call-back information, when it is determined that said voice memory is full by said memory checking means; and a printer for printing out said call-back information on a recording sheet.

6. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 5, said call-back information forwarded by said caller comprising a DTMF dual tone multi frequency signal.

7. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 5, said call-back information forwarded by said caller comprising a telephone number of said caller.

8. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 5, further comprising a means for causing a facsimile machine to perform a receiving mode of the facsimile machine, if the facsimile machine is determined not to be set to said automatic answering mode by said mode checking means.

9. An apparatus for printing call-back information in a facsimile machine including an automatic answering machine with a voice memory comprising: a ring detector for detecting a ring signal of an incoming call; a telephone answering device for receiving and transmitting voice messages, the voice memory storing the incoming and outgoing voice messages; a line interface unit connected to a modulator the modulator (modem) for interfacing a telephone line with the facsimile machine; a scanner for scanning an original document to read an image and convert the image into binary data; a printer for printing out image data on a recording sheet; a central processing unit for interfacing with said ring detector, said telephone answering device, said modem, said scanner, and said printer; a memory connected to said central processing unit for storing a control program for the central processing unit; an operating a panel equipment comprising a number of keys for inputting key data and further comprising a display for displaying data; said central processing unit checking whether the facsimile machine is set to an automatic answering mode upon receiving a ring signal of a incoming call detected by said ring detector; said central processing unit checking whether said voice memory is full when said central processing unit has determined that the facsimile machine is set to the automatic answering mode; said telephone answering device sending to a caller a memory-full-status message requesting the caller to forward call-back information when said central processing unit has determined that said voice memory is full; and said printer printing out said call-back information on a recording sheet.

10. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 9, said call-back information forwarded by said caller comprising a DTMF dual tone multi frequency signal.

11. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 9, said call-back information forwarded by said caller comprising a telephone number of said caller.

12. The apparatus for printing call-back information according to claim 9, further comprising a means for causing a facsimile machine to perform a receiving mode of the facsimile machine, if the facsimile machine is determined not to be set to said automatic answering mode by said central processing unit.